


(^ 



2J4 ytfiMRClCMUX^. 




JESSIE BROWN; 



THE RELlEl' OE LUOkjXOW 



% JmmH, hx €i}xa ,^tts. 



BY DION BOURCICAULT. 



WHK H ARE A DDK!) 



A i](^sc,iiptioii of Llie Costiiine — Oast of the (Jharacters— Entrances and Exits- 
K«'Iativp PoRitlonp of the Performers on the Stage, and the whole of the 



Tliis Play tornw No. 203 of French's Krli,;<.n of the Standard Drama. 



N E A\ V (' ^ '■: . 
S A M U E T. t R R N H 



No. 122 N.^ssAU Stkbet, Up^Sa 



r^^T~^ O^^^yC:^ 



CXi 






^ 



♦LONDON ASSURANCE, a Comedy in 5 acts, - 

♦IRISH HEIRESS, a Comedy in 5 acts, - ' - - 

*A LOVER BY PROXY, a Farce in 1 act, 

*ALMA MATER, a Comedy in 3 acts, • ; - 

♦CURipSITIES OF LITERATURE, a Farce in 1 act, 

♦THE BASTILE, a Drama in 1 act, - - - - • 

♦l* HE OLD GUARD, a Drama in 1 act, . - - - 

♦WOMAN, a Tragedy in 5 acts, - . - - - 

VICTOR AND HORTENSE, a Drama in 2 acts, 

LOVE IN A SACK, a Farce in 1 act, . . - - 

LOLAH, a Drama In 2 acts, 

USED UP, a Comedy in 2 acts, . - - - - 

♦OLD HEADS AnI) YOUNG HEARTS, a Comedy in 5 acts,- 

DON C^SAR DE BAZAN, a Drama in 3 acts, - 

A MATCH FOR A KING, a Comedy in 2 acts, 

MOTHER AND SON, a Drama in 3 acts, « . - 

FOX AND GOOSE, an Operetta in 1 act, 

♦LAYING A GHOST, a Farce in 1 act, . - . ■ 

♦A CONFIDENCE, a Comedy in 1 act, - 

♦THE OLD SCHOOL, a Cdmedy in 2 acts, - - - ■ 

♦FOUND OUT AT HOME, a Comedy in 3 acts, 

THE WATER tlURE, an Operetta in lad, , ♦ 

♦SHAKSPEARE IN LOVE, 1 act, - - - - 

♦LOVE AND MONEY, a Comedy in 5 acts, - 

♦THE WILLOW COPSE, a Drama in 5 acts, - 

♦THE KNIGHT OF ARVA, a Comic Drama in 2 acts, - 

♦SALAMANDRINB, a Ballet, 

GERALDA, a Comic Drama in 3 acts, - * 

THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND, a Comic Drama in 3 acts, 

♦A RADICAL CURE, a Farce in 1 act, 

♦LOVE IN A MAZE, a Comedy in 5 acts, 

SEXTUS THE FIFTH, A Drama in 5 acts, 

[Continued on third page of cover.} 



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FOBJUNO THE REPKKTOiRK OF 

MISS AGNES KOBERTSON. 
No. VI. 



JESSIE BROWN; 



OR, 



THE RELIEF OF LUCKNOW. 



gi grama, in f^ree gitts. 

(founded on an episode in the INDIAN REBELLION.) 

AUTHOR OF 

London Assurance, Old Heads and Youii<^ Hearts, The Irish Heiress, Used Up, The 

Corsican Brothers, Love and Money, The Willow Copse, The Lile olan Actress, 

Ttie Phantom, Andy Blake, The Chameleon, Victor and Horleuse, Genevieve, 

The Younf? Actress, Louis the Eieventli, The Knight of Arva, Faust and 

Marguerite, Janet Pride, Geor^'c D'Arville, The Poor oi New York, 

Belphegor, Napoleon's Old Guard, Love in a Maze, Alma Maler, 

A Lover by Proxy. Don Caesar de Bazan, The Invisible 

Husband. Sixtus the Fitlth, The Prima Donna, Bluebelle, 

The Cat Changed into a Woman, Una, The Fox 

Hunt, &c., &c., &.C. 




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year pne Thojjgftnii_Eight Hundre d and Fifty E ight, / 
by Dion Bocrcicaui,t, in the Clerk's Office "of the District ^urt dr>^lllt! Ji"'"* i" "— 
for the Southern District of New York. .^''^'''^^V 



^ 



■^■j) 



NEW YORK: ' >^-!' 

SAMUEL FRENCH, 

122 Nassau Street, (Up Stairs.) 



CAST OF CHARACTERS.— [Jessie Bro wjr.] 



Wallaclcs Theatre, 1858. 
The Nana Sahtb. Rajah of Bithoor, - Mr. Bourcicault. 
AoHMET, his Vakeel, .. - - - - Mr. H. B. Phillips. 

Kandal MoGrbgor, } Officers in the Eng- ^ Mr. Lester, 
GiooBDiE McGregor, ( lish Service, \ Mr. A. H. Davenport. 

Rev. David Blount. Chaplain 32nd Regiment, Mr. W. R. Blake. 
SwEENiE, a PrivatCj 32d Reginaeiit, - - Mr. T. B. Johnston. 
Cassidy, a Corporal, 82d Regiment, - Mr. Sloan. 

Sdldiei'B, Highlanders, Sepoys, and Hindoo Servants. 
Jessie Brown, a Scotch Girl, - - - Miss Agnes Robertson. 
Amy Campbell, ------ Mrs. Hoey. 

Charlie and Effie, her Children, - - Misses Reeves. 
Alice, -__--_- Mrs. Allen. 

Maky, - - INIrs. H. B, Phillips. 

Ladies and Children. 

The Scene is laid at Lucknow, in the Province of Oude, in India. 



Time— The Summer of 1H57. 



xv-- 



^^s^ 



An Act supplemental to an Act entitled "An Act to amend the several acts reajpecU 
ing Copyright" approi->ed February thirds eighteen hundred and thirty-one. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 
of America in Congress assembled. That any copyriglit lierea Iter granted under the 
laws of the United States to the author or proprietor of any dramatic composition, 
designed or suited for public representation, shall be deemed and taken to confer 
upon the said author or proprietor, his heirs or assigns, along with the sole right to 
print and publish the said composition, the sole right also to act, perform, or jepre- 
■ent the same, or cause it to be acted, performed, or represented, on any stage or 
public place during the whole period for which the copyright is obtained ; and any 
manager, actor, or other person acting, performing or representing the said compo- 
sition, without or against the consent of the said author or proprietor, his heirs or 
assigns, shall be liable for damages to be sued for and recovered by action on the 
case or other equivalent remedy, with costs of suit in any court of the United 
States, such damages in all cases to be rated and assessed at such sum not leas than 
one hundred dollars for the first, and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, 
as. to the court having cognizance thereof shall appear to be just: Provided 
nevertheless, That nothing herein enacted shall impair any right to act, perform, or, 
represent a dramatic composition as aforeaaid, which right may have been acquired, 
or shall in future be acquired by any manager, actor, or other person previous to 
the securing of the copyright for the said composition, or to restrict in any way the 
right of such author to process in equity in any court of the United States for the 
better and further enforcement of his rights. 
Approved, August 18, 1856. 

Notice. — Any manager permitting this work to be performed in his 
theatre, without the written permission of the Author, is liable to a 
jjcnalty of not less than one hundred dollars for each performance — 
in conformity with the new Copyright Act as above. 



i 



JESSIE BROWN 



ACT I. 

SCENE I. — The Exterior of the Bungdlo of Mrs. Campbell — Luch- 
now in the distance. Table laid on R. h. side, under a tree, with 
viands upon it. Native servants in attendance. 

Music. — Enter Geordie McGregor, with Alice and Mary. Enter 
Acn^ET from the house. 

Geor. Here we are at last. What can induce Mrs. Campbell to live 
a mile from Lucknow 1 

Alice. You are a pretty soldier — you cannot march a mile without 
a murmur, 

Geor. On ray own native hills in bonnie Scotland, with my hound 
by my side, I have walked a dozen miles before breakfast 5 but under 
this Indian sun 

Mary. And with only a pretty girl by your side 

Alice. Say two pretty girls. Don't be bashful, Mary — include me. 

Entei Mrs. Campbell. 

Geor. Oh, Mis. Campbell, look here ! I am besieged — Delhi is 
nothing to the condition I shall be in if you don't relieve me. 

Alice. Mrs. Campbell, please, he won't tell us which of us he is in 
love with. 

Mrs. C. I will tell you : with neither. He is in love with his new 
uniform ; he only received his commission two months ago, and every 
officer is for six months in love with himself. 

Geor. After that I'll take a glass of sangaree. 

Mrs. C. Where's Randal 1 



» JESSIE BROWN. 

Geor. My fiery brother, the McGregor— as Jessie' will insist on call- 
ing him— is, as usual, inspecting his men. 

Mrs. C. Jessie is right ; for your brother, Randal McGregor, is tlio 
noblest man that ever breathed the Scottish air and made it purer. 
But tell me, what news from Delhi 1 [They sit. 

Geor. Oh, the siege continues; but it will be taken,of course— these 
black rascals are mere scum. 

[AcHMET, who is serving Geordie, looks round. 

Alice, There is one who disagrees with you on that point. 

Geor. Does he 1 

Ach. No, sahib, Allah Akbar ! it is so — we are scum. Lady, in 
Hindoostan there are one hundred millions such as I am, and there 
are one hundred thousand such as you ; yet for a century you have 
had your foot on our necks ; we are to you a thousand to one— 
a thousand black necks to one white foot. God is just, and Moham- 
med is his prophet. We are scum ! 

Geor. I can't answer for the truth of your calculation, but I agree 
in the sentiment — you are scum. [Drinks. 

Ach. Sometimes the scum rises. 

Geor, Yes, Dusky, and when it does, the pot boils over and puts 
the fire out ; so the scum extinguishes the element that made it rise. 

Ach. I cannot reason with a European. 

Geor. No, nor fight with one; by your own calculation it takes one 
thousand of you to do either one or the other. [Exit Achmet. 

Mrs. C. Beware of that man, Geordie ; I did not like the expression 
of his face as you spoke. 

Geor, Bah ! there is virtue enough in one red-coat to put a whole 
arhiy of them to flight. 
• Mrs, C, Have you ever been in battle ? 

Geor. Never. But when I'm on parade, and hear the drums and 
see the uniforms, I feel like the very devil. 

Alice, There is no chance of the war coming here — is there ? 

Geor. Not the slightest. London itself is not more peaceable than 
yonder city of Lucknow ; the native regiments here are faithful as 
dogs. You need not fear danger. 

Mrs. C, The rebellion is still far. But when I think of the atrocities 
already perpetrated by the Sepoys— when I think of my two little 
children— oh, why do 1 remain here in the midst of such scenes of 
horror 1 

Geoi'. Because you are in love with my brother Randal ; the feel- 
ings of the mother urge you to go and the feelings of the woman com- 
mand you to stay' 

Mrs, C, [Rising,] Geordie, there is more truth than kindness in 
what you say. 

Geor, [Holds her,] Stay, Amy, I'm a thoughtless fool. 

Mrs. C, Yet you wrong me a little— I was betrothed to Randal. 
We quarreled, as lovers will, and parted. Tn that moment of anger I 
accepted the hand of Colonel Campbell. 

Geor. At the seige of Sebastopol Randal became your husband's 
most devoted friend, and watched over him like a brother. 



JKSSIB BROWN. O 

Mrs. C. Oh ! it was a noble reproof to my falsehood. 

Geoi'. And at the charge of the Highlanders, when Campbell was 
struck down mortally wounded, and the command devolved on my 
brother, Randal carried him in his arms, at the head of the regiment, 
into the Redan, so that none of the glory of that day should be lost 
to his rival. 

Mrs. C. Should I not be unfaithful to my dead husband if I did 
not love Randal McGregor as I do 1 

[Jessie, outside, sings. 

Mary. Hush, listen 1 [Geordie goes up. 

Alice. What is that 1 

Geordie. What is it 1 why it is a sprig of heather from the High- 
land moors. Ii is a slogan on the Scotch pipes that nature has pufr 
into the prettiest throat that ever had an arm round it. It is the pet 
of the regiment. It is Jessie Brown. 

Sirs. C. Yes, 'tis Jessie, here she comes up the hill with her two 
lovers. 

Alice. Two lovers ! That's extra allowance. 

Geor. She might have eight hundred if she liked, for that is the 
strength of the TSth Regiment, and there's not a man in it that would 
not stake his life for a blink of her blue eye. 

Mrs. C. Jessie is a good girl, as honest and true as steel. She is 
betrothed to S weenie Jones, a private in the 32d. 

Geor. An ugly, wiry little fellow, but a smart soldier and as brave 
as a terrier. 

Mrs. C. But she is also followed by a soft, good-natured Irish cor- 
poral named Cassidy, the bosom friend of Sweenie, and to see these 
two men so devoted to each other, and yet so fond of the same girl, 
is a picture too like my own history not to fill me with interest and 
emotion. {Music. — Scotch air — very piano. 

Geor. She belongs to our clan. 

Alice. Here she comes. 

Mrs. C. And here come my darling ones. 

Enter Sweenie, ca/rrying Charlie on his hack, and Cassidy carrying 
Efpie on his shoulder. 

Char. Wo, hossey ! come up. [Sweenie tries to salute Geordie. 
Cx^^vDY salutes him. """ ' 

Effie. [Beating Cassidy with her parasol.] Go along, hossy. 

Char. Oh, Sweenie, you'll have me down, hold me up, sir. 

Enter Jessie. — Music ceases. 

Jessie. Dinna ye hear the bairn, ye lout, hau'd him up. 

Sween. How can I when I must salute my officer 1 

Jessie. Ee, sirs, its maister Geordie — gude day, leddies — ee, ma 
certie, how braw a chiel he is in his red coat, and his gou'd lace. 
There's McGregor in every inch of him. Ee why wasn't I the Queen 
of Scotland to make a king of him. 

(rt&r. Don't be a fool, Jessie, you talk just as you did when we 
li^ere children. 



O JESglK BROWN. 

Jessie. Anci wha shouldn't I, Geordie, then, in the days of auld 
lang sjme, when we played together on the craigs o' Duncleuch, you 
aye used to kiss me when we met and parted — you do so now when 
there is nane to see — are you ashamed of those days when we were 
children, Geordie 1 I'm not. 

Oecyr. No, Jessie, and I'll kiss you now if Sweenie does not mind. 

Sween. No, your honor, if Jessie says all right, so it is. 

Cas. We give our consint. 

Alice. [Vexed.] Jessie has three lovers instead of two, it seems. 

Jes. Eh ! [Aside.] Yon lassie loo's him, I spier it in the blink o' 
her e'e. She is fashed wi' him for kissin' me. 

Geor. [Aside.] Alice is furious. [Aloud.] Come, Jessie, for auld 
lang syne. 

Jes. [f^natchingr CuAnLiE from Sweenie — aside to Sweenie.] Say 
ye nae like it. 

Sween. [Puzzled.] Eh, — What! Hold j'our honor, I ax pardon, 
but 

Jes. Sweenie's jealous. 

Cas. We are chokiii' wid it, plase your honor. 

Mrs. C. [who with Mary has watched this scene, and understood 
Jessie^ s motives, advances.] Go along, all of you, take your sweet- 
hearts into the kitchen. Jessie, leave the children here. 

Jes. 'Tention 32nd ! fa' in. Recht fess. — March ! 

[Exit Sweenie and Cassidy, following her word of command. 

Mrs. C. [Laughing.] There girls, there's a pair of lovers reduced 
to discipline ! 

Ahce. Yet people say thatnow-a-days the chivalry has left the Offi- 
cers and is to be found in the ranks. 

M7'S. C. No, Alice — Jessie is be^Joved. because all men worship 
what is brave, gentle, and good, because she shrinks from hurting 
another's feelings, even in jest, as she did yours just now. 

Jes. Nae, my leddy — I knaw nout o' what yer spierin at. 

Mrs. C. Then take that blush away. 

[Jessie runs out, stops and returns timidly to Alice. 

Jes. [in a low voice.] Ye ai-e nae angry wi' puir Jessie. 

Alice. [Turns and throws her arms round her neck and kisses her.] 
No. [Jessie runs off. 

Mrs. C. Now, Geordie, you can take Jessie's kiss where she has 
left it, and I am sure you will hurt nobody's feelings. 

Alice. Oh, Amy. [Geordie crosses to Ahce. 

Mrs. C. Come girls, take Geordie in, I would be alone. 

[Music, exit Geordie, Alice and Mary. 

Mrs. C. Randal is coming, I cannot hear his footstep, but it falls 
on my heart, he is beyond my senses, but love, that heavenly essence, 
gives me a feeling finer than sense, and I know that my lover comes. 
'Tis the air he breathes, that conveys his presence to me, as it flutters 
through my heart. 

Enter Randal McGregor. 

San. Amy. 

Mr*. C. Ah, I knew it. 



JKSSIK BllOWX. f 

Ch4h\ Oh, dere's Kaiidal. 

Ffie. No. Charlie, me lirst, kiss Effie first. \They run to hini. 

Ran. There, that wili do, run along, go Charlie, go Effle, you tease 
me. [The Children shrink back. 

Mrs. C. Come away dears, you are tired, Randal. 

Ran. No, but the sight of those children pains me. 

Mrs. C. They remind you that I have been unfaithful — oh Randal, 
do not visit the fault of the mother upon these innocent children. 

Ran. Amy, your repentance wonnds me, and your memory of that, 
fault is a reproach to ray love. Oh, let it be buried in the grave of 
your noble husband. 

Mrs. C. Forgive me. 

Rail. Charlie, come here, Effie, come. [He kisses thenc] Amy, I 
have bad news, the rebels are at Cawnpore, not fifty miles from hence, 
and a report has just arrived, that tells of horrors committed on our 
countrymen, their wives, their children, that makes my blood freeze 
and my heart groan. 

3Irs. C. Randal, Randal, are we in danger here, ray children, are 
they safe. 

Ran. Hush, one cry of alarm, one look of fear, and we are lost. 
Of our regiments in Li:cknow, four will mutiny, one only will remain 
faithful, to-night you must leave this place. 

Mrs. C. Is peril so near. 

Enter two native servants^ who remove the service. 

Ran. Hush. [Sings as he dances, Charlie. 

There is nae luck aboot the hoose. 

There is nae luck at all, &c. 

[Mrs. Campbell leans, trembling, over the child at her side. Exeunt 

Naiives. 

Mrs. C. They are gone. 

Ran. Regain your courage, think of these children. 

Mrs. G. Randal, you exagerate the danger ; look around you — all 
is at peace, the people are kind and gentle — not a look of anger or 
of hate in any face ; our servanta "are devoted to us. 

Ran. Fatal security ! Yonder country to you seems in repose — to 
me it seems like a sleeping tiger. Death is humming in the air. 
You say your servants are faithful — there is one of them watching us 
now — we are watched — don't turn — a tall black fellow in a crimson 
turban. 

Mrs. C. Achmet. 

Ran. Listen, without betraying any emotion. At midnight I shall 
bring down 50 men — be ready to start without delay ; take nothing 
with you — make no preparation. 

Mrs. C. Why cniiiiot we fly now, at mice? 

Ran. Because your own servants would assassinate you, and join 
the army. {^Ntght begins. 

Jfrs. (\ May they not do so ere to-night. 

Ran. No ; 1 gave Cassidy and Sweenie leave to come here, and sent 
Geordie on — tliat makes three, and you have only 30 eervauts ; the 
natives dare not attack at such odds. 



JESSIE BKOWS. 



Mrs. C. Does Geordie know our peril ' 

anf;-Khr iacrco^ineT ""^' ""'''' *'^ '^"^ ^--^ «« "^oung, 
^r«. p. Why do you suspect mf household of treachery' 
:X' lP'^'''''9outapaper.^ Do you know the Rajah of Bithoor ? 
nnllh" '^^'''* Sabib-I saw him at Benares, at the feast of Moham- 
mcdah, u year ago. I might not have recollected him but he fS 
<uwed me w.th so a strange gaze that he almost terrified me. 
Kan. Do you understand Hindoostanee ' 
Mrs. C. No. 

Han. Ida [^s he reads, Achmet glides on behind, and creevx //» f^ 
shoulder.^ This letter was intercepted at Secunderah to d^^ I Uf on 
as I translate : '^ My faithful Achmet-to-night, at one houY\f^PMh^ 

F,ri?ih"''"' ^ '^^".^^ -ttheMartinierewith50rmenTwh n he 

Foi ughee woman is in my Zenana, to you I give a lac of nLpL 

Destroy the children-they are giaours. Nana Sahib " ^'^'* 

J/r9 r Mxr.h-n t r,r • t^i^'^^Tratsc* a A:ni/tf over Randal. 

met drops his knife rums up and leaps ooer the parapet. Randal tms 
dratvs a pistol and fires at him as he disappears. xva.ndal lurm, 

Reenter Geordie, Alice, Mart, Jessie, Sweenie, and Cassidt. 

himTway!" ''''* ^' *^^'°''^' "^was only-a jackal ,• I fired and scared 

Enter Blount, with his hat smashed. 

All. Mr. Blount ! 

Ran. The Chaplain of our Regiiienfc. 

Cas. His Riverence ! 

Blount. Good evening, my friends. May I suggest that the next 
time you throw a fellow six foot high out" of an upper window you 
would intimate your views to peaceable persons below ^'''^' ^^^^ 

Cas. A jackal, six foot high! 

Geor. Are you hurt, sir ? 

^W No; fortunately I received the thing on my head-from 
whence it bounded ofl; and rolled down the hill-side into the jungle 

Mr Ri ^"'^ *" /^' ^''"'^' ^}^ ""^ y^"' t^^^"»< M hut Mrs. CampbLl 
Mr. Blount, stay! one word-you are a clergyman-but once you 
v> re I believe, an officer in Her Majesty's Carbineers. ^ 

Blount. 1 quitted the army from conscientious scruples 

Kan. Are you a coward ? 

Bloimt. A coward ! I think notr-that is-well-no : for when I 
read the accounts of these atrocities, I feel in me an emotion that is 
whi' y^7,^^^'-^ sinful desire to smash the heads of these wretches, 
who butcher women and infants. I know the feeling is horrible : I 
ought to forgive and pray for them. I have bound the devil in me, 
but he leaks out. ' 

Ran. If you taw these little ones in peril, would you fight? 



JESSIE BKOWW. 9 

Blount. Fight! young muQ— my dear Randal— I kill human beings I 
a clergyman destroy lives ! what do you take me for? 

Ran. I take you for a brave man. You were born a warrior, but 
your more gentle nature refused to war against any creatures but the 
wicked, and you could not shed blood except in the cause of human- 
ity. Don't deny it ; you retired from the army and became curate of 
a poor Scotch village near my home; from your lips I first learned 
what war was. 

Blount. I portrayed its horrors, its wickedness. 
Ran. I only saw its glory ; I only saw your face lighted with the 
animation of the charge — you fired my soul and made me what I am- 
Blount. God forgive me ; I ruined the boy. 
Ran. I entered the army — you followed me. 
Blount. Did I not promise your dying father to watch over you ? 
and here's how I did it. 

Ran. Listen, my dear old tutor. You are brave and cool, and to 
you alone I can confide the defence of this house to-night. 
Blount. To me — good gracious ! 

Ra7i. You will be surrounded by Nana Sahib's troops; his design is 
to murder all its inmates except Amy, whom he destines for his 
Zenana. 

Blount. The demon ! May his infernal spirit roast in — what am I 
saying ! May a merciful Father forgive him ! This is horrible. 

Ran. At midnight summon all the household, and start for the city. 
I will precede you and gather a guard, and hasten back to meet you. 
Mrs. C. Do you go alone ? 

Ran. My horse is at the foot of the hill, picketed in the copse ; 
once on his back, I am in Lucknow. Farewell. 

\MuMc. Embraces Mrs. C. 
Mrs. C. Oh, Randal, shall we eirer meet again? 
Ran. We sleep to-night in yonder city or in Heaven, [Exit Randal. 
Blount. Stop, Randal, my dear boy ; I can't do it. He is gone — 
what shall I do ? Mercy on me ! what arms are there in the house? . 
Mrs. C. Two double guns, a rifle, my late husband's swords and 
a brace of pistols. 

Blount. A clergyman— a minister of peace — what will become of 
me ! Have you any powder ? 
Mrs. C. A small keg of cartridge!? 

Blount. These poor children I I tremble in every limb. Have you 
any caps? 
Mrs. C. A box or two. 

Blount The old devil is kicking in me— my blood beats hot. Get 
thee behind me, Satan ! Oh ! if I could only see these deluded mur- 
derers, to speak with them, to prepare their erring souls, before I sent 
them to ask for that mercy in Heaven which, by the way, they never 
show on earth. l^Music."] My respected and dear friend, we are en- 
gaged in a wicked deed — I feel it— come, let us see your ammunitioQ. 

{ExmiU, 



10 JESSIE BROWN. 

SCENE 11. — A verandah attached to the house. Night. 
Enter Sweenie «nrf Cassidy. 

Cas. Whisht ! Sweenie, come here— spake low ! D'ye see that 
wood beyant ? there's fifty black divils hidin' in it, and here's one of 
their raping hooks I found in the grass. 

Sween. Rebels here ! 

Cas. I was watchin' the Capting ; as he hurried down they crept 
afther him. He has come to grief, Sweenie, for yonder is the road 
to Lucknow, and his horse has not passed down it yet. Oh, wurra, 
wurra, what will we do? 

Sweeii. Give me that sabre; stop here, Cassidy, I will creep down 
and see what is going on below ; don't say a word to frighten the 
women, but if I don't come back in ten minutes, conclude I'm dead; 
then, in with ye, barricade the doors, and tell Master Geordie. 

Cas. Sweenie, avich, let me go. Oh, murdher! you'll be killed 
and Jessie wil never forgive me for not goin' in your place. 

Sween. Cassidy, if the rebels are here in force, I shall fall ; and as 
the savage spare neither women nor children,^ I'll see ye both in 
Heaven before morning, so I won't say good night. [Exit. 

Cas. God speed ye, Sweenie, an keep ye. 

Enter Jessie. 

Jes. Who is that ? Cassidy ! 

Cas. Meself, darlin'. IDistant shot. 

Jes. What s that ! 

Cas. [Aside.'] Its murdherin' the Ca;ptain they are, I dar'nt tell 
her. [Aloud] That, that was Sweenie, sure he's gone down beyant, 
may be, that is by accident, his swoord went off on half cock. 

Jes. His sword! 

Enter Geordie. 

Oew. Jessie, come here; eh, who's that — Cassidy? 

Cas. [Aside.] What'll I do at all, if if he knew that Sweenie was 
gone to get killed for his brother. 

Geor. Go in, Cassidy, leave us. 

Cas. I'm off, your honor. [Going.] Five minutes are gone, I'll creep 
afther Sweenie. If I had a bagginit, or a taste ov a twig itself, but 
I've nothin' in my hand but my fist. [Exit. 

Jes. Did ye ca' me. ^ „ . ^u .. , . 

Geor. Come here, you little puss, now you shall give me that kiss 
I did not get this afternoon. 

Jes. Geordie you have been drinking. 

Geor. And if I have. Wine lets out the truth, Jessie, and the truth 
is — I love you. 

Jes. Ee ! dinna ye always loov me ? 

Geor. No, I love you as you deserve to be loved, and I can't bear 
to see such a pretty girl as you have grown throw yourself away on 
those common soldiers, like Sweenie and his comrades. 

Jes. Oh, Geordie, Sweenie loves you— he would die for ydu or 
Randal 



JESSIK BEOWN. H 

Ge(yr, Oh, devil take Sweenie ! all our mess say you are too good 
for him. You are the prettiest girl iu Lucknow. 
Jes. Let us gang awa in, Geordio dear. 

Gear. [Takinp fur in his armi] No. you sba'ii't — come, don't be fool- 
ish, Jessie. Could you uot be happy with me — dou't you like an 
officer better thau a vulgar, common soldier. 
Jes, Oh, Geordie ! oh, Geordie ! [Buries her face in her hands. 

Geor. Look up, Jessie. 
Jes. I canna, I canna. 

Geor. Why can't you look up into my face ? 

Jes. I'm lukin far awa — far awa, upon craigs of Duncleuch ; 'tis in 
the days of auld lang syne, and the arm of wee Geordie McGregor is 
round the body of Jessie Brown, for he is saving her life in the sea. 
Na, don't tak yer arm awa, Geordie dear. I m lukin still. Geordie 
is a laddie noo, and he chases the deer on the craigs of Duncleuch ; 
beside him is poor Sweenie — poor faithful Sweenie, that follows the 
McGregor like a dog ; Geordie drives a stag to bay ; the beastie 
rushes on him and throws him doon— anither minit and Geordie will 
na see Jessie mair — but Sweenie's dirk is quicker than that minit ! 
the brute fell dead, but not before he gored poor Sweenie sorely. We 
watched by his bedside ; d'ye mind the time, Geordie ? your arm 
was round me then — na, dinna tak it awa noo. 
Geor. Oh, Jessie ! oh, Jessie! 
Jes. Luk up, Geordie. 
Geor. I cannot. 

Jes. Why canna ye luk up into my face ? 

Geor. Because I'm looking far away, far away into the days of auld 
lang syne, and they make me ashamed of what I am. 

Jes. The bluid of shame never crossed the brow of a McGregor. 
Na ! na ! you may kiss me now ; but listen, Geordie ; whisper — 

ISings. 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot 

And never brought to mind. 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot 
And the days of auld lang syne. 

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

For auld lang syne, 
Then tak a kiss of kindness yet 
For auld lang syne. '[Exeunt: 

* 

SCENE III. — The Interior of the Bungalo. A room serving for a nursery 
— large openings at the hack discover a distant view of Lucknow, brilliant 
with lights. 

Mrs. Campbell discovered. Chaslie and Effie, Alice and Mary. 

Mrs. C. No, 1 shall not undress the children. Take EflSe with you, 
Alice. 

Alice Poor child, she is almost asleep now. 

Char. Mamma, I want to go to bed. Where is Jefisie ? 



12 JESSIE BROWX. 

iJ7iter Jkssik. 

Jei. Here, my precious one. [Exit Alice and Mart, with Effib. 

Jlra. C. Place him in his cot ; do hot remove his clothes. [ WalJu 
vp and doivn. AddeJ] 1 have calmed the agitation of the poor old 
cuaplain, but my own overpowers me. 

Chixr. Jessie, sing me Charlie : you are not tired, are you ? 

Jen. Nae, darling ; I'm never tired o' teaching ye the airs o' Scot- 
laud. [Sin^s a verse of ^^ Charlie is my Darling J' ^ 

Mrs. C. Can I entrust the secret to this girl ? {Aloud.] Jessie ! 

Jes. Aweel, my lady. 

Mrs. C. There's danger near. Don't start, don't cry. To-night 
this house is to be surrounded by tlia rebels — our murder is planned, 
but so is our escape. 

Jes. [Rising.] It canna be ; wha tauld ye this? 

Mrs. C. Randal McGregor. 

Jes. Then it's true. 

Mrs. C. Hush ! five hundred men will attack U8. 

Jes. Mercy on us ! what will become of us ? 

Mrs. C. Randal has promised to rescue us. 

Jes. [Resuming her calmness.} The McGregor has said it ; dinna ye 
fash yersel— gin he said it, he'll do it. [Returns to the cot. 

Mrs. C. Go, Jessie, see to the fast#iiings of all the doors, but show 
no fear, excite no suspicion. 

Jessie. I hae no fear. Has not the McGregor gi'en his word to coom 
back ? He'l tak it up, and under his claymore there can nae fear. 

[Exit hastily. — Music. 

Mrs. C. This girl gives me a lesson in courage — what reliance, 
what noble confidence she has in Randal — how calm she turned, 
when she heard he had given his word to secure our escape. 

[Nana Sahib and Achmet appear at the window, on the balcony. Achmet 
points to Mrs. Campbell. The Nana enters the chamber. Achmet dis- 
appears. 

What is the hour ? [ Goes up and looks at her watch.'] It is now past 
eleven. Randal must have reached the city by this tima — it is time 
to prepare. [She turns and sees the N as a beside her.] Mercy! 

JVana. Be silent — you know me. t 

Mrs. C. The Nana Sahib. 

HaTia. The officer who intercepted my letter to Achmet, is my 
prisoner. My men are now surrounding your park. Escape is hope- 
less. 

Mrs. C. [Ande.] Randal taken prisoner ! then we are lost. 

Nana. Listen! I saw you at Benares — your soul entered through my 
eyes into my heart, and thrust out my own. I followed you, until 
like the suu you passed away where I could follow no more ; 1 went 
to Bitboor, and my wives offended your soul in me. I gave them 
riches and sent them away — my Zenana is cold — I am there alone ; it 
awaits the form to which the soul here belongs. 

Mi^t. 'C. You would murder my children and dishonor their mother. 



JESSTE BROWN. 1$ 

Nana, Your children shall be mine, princes of the Mahratta ; follow 
me and no blood shall flow. I will withdraw my men. Lucknow 
shall be spared, and peace restored. 

Mrs. C. England would spurn the peace bought thus with the 
honor of one of her people. 

Nana. [Approaching the bed."] This is your child ? 

Mrs. C. My child. 

Nana. [Draws his yataglian.'] No cry ! or this steel is in his throat I 

Char. Mamma, oh, dear mamma, help me. 

Mrs. C. Hush, Charlie, my own one, don't cry, hush. Oh, Rajah 
Sahib, spare my child j yes, I consent. 

Enter Jessie. 

I will follow you— spare — 

[Jessie snatches the knife from the Nana, and stabbing him toith it suddenly. 

Jes. Drop that bairn, ye black deevil ! [Nana staggers a moment and 
drops the child, whom Jessie catches to her breast. 

Nana. Tehanum possess ye — mine then ye shall be by force — none 
under this roof but you, shall see to-morrow's sun. 
[Distant shots — cries within — Achmet appears. Nana and Achmet draw 

their scimeters and leap over the balcony. 

Enter Geordie, Aucb, and Mart. 

Gear. What shots were those ? 

Alice. What has happened? 

Mrs. C. The Nana Sahib with five hundred rebels, besiege us in thia 
house. Handal is their prisoner. Randal who promised to res- 
cue us. 

Jes. Prisoner or free, the McGregor will keep his word. 

Mrs. C. The impassibility of that girl drives me mad. 

ErOer Cassidy, running. 

Cos. He's comin' thunder and turf, he's fightin' like a cat wid tin 
legs and fifteen claws on aich fut. 

Alice. Who? 

Cas. The Captain ; Sweenie is flghtin' beside him. \^Shots outside.l 
Hurroo ! they're at it. 

[Runs up, Geordie follows to verandah ai back. 

Geor. There they are in the copse. 

Cas. Where's a gun, oh a gun for the love o' God. 

Jes. Here is one. [Shots. 

Cas. Hoo ! there goes a bullet through my leg. [Geordie staggers 
back very pale. Jessie runs up with the' gun."] The devils see us in the 
light here, and they're pepperin' us handsome. 

Jes. Look, Cassidy, look ! there's a big fellow makin' for Sweenie, 
quick. [Gi^SBlDY fira. 

Cos. Uool 

Jes. Here they come—quick by this ladder. 



14 



JESSIE BROWN. 



Enter Sweexie, and then Randal. Jessie conies down and sooth^ 

Charlie and Effie. 

/ 

Ran. Cast dowa that ladder, Cassidy, and stand to your arms 

Cas. Ay, your honor. 

Mrs. C. Ob, Raudal. you have escaped! 

Jes. I told you the McGregor would keep his word. 

Ran. 1 was taken prisoner, by about fifty men, who lie just this 
side of the bridge, their main force is still beyond the river, they are 
led by some Rajah of rank. 

Mrs. C. By the Nana Sahib in person, he was here. 

Alice. Here ! 

Mrs. C. He came by that ladder, and fled when wounded by Jessie. 

Jes. Na ! the deevil had a steel jacket on, the blow slipped awa. 

Ran. Nana Sahib, then the whole force of the rebels is in the 
neighborhood—Lucknow is threatened—the garrison will be taken by 
surprise, where is Geordie ? 

Geor. Here, Randal. {Advancing. 

Ban. How pale you are, are you wounded? 

Geor. No — it is nothing. 

Ran. A scratch I suppose. Geordie, a dispatch must be carried to 
the city ; I will write it, and ypu must bear it. 

Mrs. C. But can Geordie escape thro' the lines of the enemy who 
surround us. Death must be nearly certain. 

Ran. Death is rearly certain, and therefore I pick my own brother 
for the service ; besides, he is an officer, and claims the post of dan- 
ger as his right. Do you forget the name we bear ? Alice, return 
to the interior of the house. Come, Amy, give me paper and ink. 
Geordie, while I am gone, see to your arms. 

{Exeunt all hut Geordie and Jessie. 

Gear. Death — he said that death Is nearly certain. 

Jes. How pale he is ! Geordie, speak— are you hurt ? 

Geor. Oh, Jessie I 

Jes. I saw ye flench from the shots— you came back white as snaw. 
You tremble — what is it, Geordie dear? — tell me. 

Geor. I can't, Jessie. My tongue fails me — as my limbs do — oh, 
Jessie— I feel I cannot face the fire. 

Jes. What say ye ? 

Geor. I am a coward. {Falls in a chair. 

Jes. Na! {Runs to him.] Hush, dearie ; there's nae drop of coward 
bluid in tl^e McGregor— tak' time, Geordie, 

Geor. I cannot help it, Jessie ; the passion of fear is on me — I can- 
not stir. 

Jes. Oh, my heart 1 oh, my heart I My Geordie, think of what 
Randal will say if he sees ye so — his ain brither — his ainly one ! 
Think, dearie, there are women here — and bairns, puir helpless things 
— and if ye flench noo, they will be killed ! 

Geo)'. I know it — {hides his face and Ins hands} — hut I am paralyzed. 

Jes. Think of the auldmither at hame, Geordie — the proud one that 
nursed ye, Geordie — the leddy that awaits her twa boys cumin' back 
fra' the wars — what I will ye bring yer raither back a blighted name t 



JESSIE BEOWy. 16 

Oh, hae courage, for Her sake ! — oh, for mint;, Geordiet {Throws hir 
aims around him.'] Oh, why canna' I gang beside ye, to show ye how 
to bleed for the auld braes o' Scotland ? 

Enter Blount. 

Wha's: there ?— gang awa'— oh, 'tis the minister. 

Blount. Is he wounded ? my poor boy, is he hurt ? 

Jes. Oh, sir, help him ; his heart fails — it is his first fight, and he 
flenches. 

Gm: This terrible sense of fear which paralyzes me will pass 
away. 'Tis a spasm — it cannot be that my father's son, my brother's 
brother, can be so miserable, so contemptible a thing as this ! 

Blount. The boy has conscientious scruples, like me. 

Geor. No, no ; to you— to you alone, companions of my childhood, 
let me confess — 

Blount. No. don't ; you sha'n't say a word — you don't understand ; 
I know all — first powder smells sick ; but after you see a few men 
fall, that goes off". 

Jes. Yes, it clears awa'. 

Blount. Take your lip between your teeth and choose your man. 

Jes. Think o' the bairnes they've slaughtered in cauld bluid. 

Blount. Don't trust to pistols — I always preferred steel, it's more 
reliable and doesn't miss fire ; use the point — it kills ten when the 
blade throws open your guard, and only wounds one. God forgive 
me ! I am teaching this boy how to murder. 

Re-enter Randal, ivith the order, folloioed by Sweenie. 

Ran. Here is the dispatch. Where is my brother? 

Jes. He is here, but stay a wee. [Mside."] Oh, what can we do ? 

Ran. How's this ? what has happened ? 

Jes. Naething. \_Aside'\ He blenches, he canna' dp it. {Aloud.\ 
Randal, I have asked Geordie a favor, and he has granted me. That 
order, wjnna' the soldier that bears it safe to the General get advance- 
ment? 

Ran. My brother will win a brevet rank of lieutenant. 

Jes. Na ; your brither is rich and can buy his rank, but my Sweenie 
is puir, and Geordie has consented to let Sweenie tak' his place and 
win his sergeant's stripes. 

Sween. Oh Master Geordie ! do you so ? God bless ye ! there's not 
a prouder boy in the Queen's uniform to-night than I ami 

Geor. Jessie ! Jessie ! 

Je:s. Dinna' speak. 

Blount. {Aside."] She puts her own lover in the jaws of death ! God 
bless her ! God bless her ! 

Ran. It is better so — I have other work for Geordie. Quick then, 
Sweenie ; at the copse, near the brook, my horse is tied to a tree. 
Can you ride ? 

Siveen. I can hold on. 

Ran. This letter to the General. I will defend this house till 
becomes to relieve us, or we are buried under its ruins. The alarm 



16 JESSIE BliOWN. 

guns which will be fired from the fort when your news is known will 
apprise us that you are safe in LucIjhow, and have escaped. We can 
both see the flash and hear them h'pm here. Away with you. 

Jes. God be wi' ye, Sweenie. God be wi' ye laddie. 

[Throws her arms round him. 

Sween. I'll deserve ye this time, Jessie ; ye'U be proud of me, dead 
or alive. . [Goes up. Jkssie fa/Is on her knees. 

Blount. What are you about? you are not going by that road, you 
will be seen. 

Sween. I know it — they'll fire — 'tis ten to one they'll miss me ; Mt 
I'll fall into the garden as if I was shot, and while they are thinking 
me stiff, I'll be creepin' down to the horse and off to Lucknow. 

Ean. Well, let me see you try it. 

Jes. Oh ! my loov I 'tis for Geordie's sake. 

[Randal and Sweenie go into the halc(my. 

Mrs. C. But why should Randal go ? 

Blount. To lead his man, habit. 

[A shot. Sweenie falls over.— A cn/from Jessie. 

Ran. [After watching, returns.'] 'Tis all right, he has escaped. 

Jes. But he may be wounded? 

Ran. I think not, unless there were two bullets. I hare got one 
here. [Takes off his cap — his temple is bloody. 

Mrs. a Randal ! 

Ran. Tut ! we have other thing* to do. [Draws out a handkerchief, 
presses his forehead; and replaces his cap.] Now, Amy, to work, there 
are but three of us here, Geordie, Cassidy, and I. 

Blount. You may say four ! I will lay aside my conscientious scru- 
ples, and like my namesake, David, I will strike the Philistines. 

Ran. You have three native servants, who, I think may be trusted. 
There are not more than fifty Sepbys on this side of the bridge— now if 
we can destroy that bridge, we shall divide our foes and hold our own 
or a few hours. 

^;«Mni^ There's a keg of powder down stairs, I'll take it down 
under my arm, and blow up the bridge. This enterprise is bloodless, 
it suits me exactly. 

Ran. You propose with your form to creep down unobserved, you 
would be cut to pieces. 

Blount. But if the piece of me that held the keg got there, I might 
accomplish the good deed. [Aside.] I'm afraid he will send Geordie. 

Ran. Geordie, quick, you and I will see to this. 

Geor I am ready. [Rises. Randal embraces Amy. 

Jes. He's ganging, look, look, he goes bravely, the McGregor bluid 
is in his cheek, the dark fire is lechted. 

Geor. Bless you, Jessie. [Aside to her.] Sweenie has not been sacri- 
ficed in vain. I'll not belie your love, Jessie, farewell. 

[Exit Geordie and Randal. 

Jes. He's gane, he's gane, baith gane — and Sweenie — and my cour- 
age has gane too. 

Enter Alice, Mart> and the children. 
Alice. All is quiet. 



JESSIB BROWN. 17 

Blount. That's a bad sign. But let us extinguish the lights, they 
serve the enemy. [He puts oitt the candle. Stage dark."] 

Mrs. C. Oh. Heaven protect us in this dark hour of peril, preserve 
my poor little children. 

Blount. Amen? — they come! I see white figures in the garden. 

Jts. My Sweenie, have they killed my poor Sweenie, oh this sus- 
peni^e is worse than death. 

Blount. The house is surrounded, the whole collection is here. 

Mrs. C. Cassidy, fire, why don't you fire on them. 

Cm. [Looking in.] Plase yer honor ma'am, them savages is like 
birds — firin' frightens frightens them away, and if we coax them here 
awhile, sure they won^t be seeing afther the Captain Randal. 

Blount. Good heart, noble heart, oh Merciful Father in Heaven, it 
is a pity such good people should die. Have pity on us, have pity 
on these weak ones, and upon these little ones. 

Jes. Oh ! protect my puir Sweenie ; don't let his bluid lie on my 
hands— don't break puir Jessie's heart. [A distant explosion. Music. 

Cos. [Entering.'] D'ye hear that ? It's the bridge ! the devils are 
skelping back again to see what kind of hell is behind 'em. 

[Sounds of conflict. 

Blount. They are coming ! I hear Randal's voice. 

Ran. Cassidy ! Cassidy ! 

Cas. That's me ! here I am, your honor. Hoo ! 

[Leapt over the balcony and disappears. 

Blount. The door, the door is fast inside. [Runs out, r. h. 

Jes. No alarm guns from the city ! the time is passed ; no sign that 
he has escaped, and I sent him, I sent him. Oh, Sweenie, Sweenie I 

Mrs. C. They come — they are safe. 

Enter Randal, bearing G^obdie m hit arms. 

Ran. See to the doors. 

Alice. He is dead ! 

Jes. Dead! wha's dead? [Sees GY,GRi>m, and utters a scream of grief 
and horror.'] Geordie, what have ye done ? ye have killed the bairn. 
Stand awa, a* o' ye. Geordie, Geordie, look to me. Oh ! I did it — I 
killed him— only for me he wad nae have gane. Geordie ! [She kisses 
his face.] Speak to me, dear! Oh, I shall go mad, Geordie, if ye dae 
not answer me — if ye do not Ink to* me. {Geordie raises himself at this 
moment. A flash of a gun is seetifrom the distant city. 

Ran Ha ! the alarm gun from the city. [A second gun is heard. 

Geor. Jessie, Jessie, do you hear those guns? Sweenie has escaped, 
and after a', Geordie is not a coward. [Ee faints. 



END OP ACT I. 



18 JESSIE BROWN. 



ACT II 



SCENE I. — The interior of a Hindoo Ttmple in Lucknow. Jessik chained, 
L. H., to a pillar. Geordie is lying on a pallet, R. H., chained also. 
Hindoo Guards at the back. Achmet. k. v. A Divan, L. c. iitaye 
sombre. Mmic. 

Gem: [Awaking.'] Where am I ? Oh, these cliaius, those dark walls, 
those darker faces — I am a prisoner — why did I awake ? 

Jes. Geordie, dear, you are better now, the fever has left ye. 

Geor. Jessie, are you there ? come near me. 

Jes. I can't, dearie, the savages have tied me like a dog to the wall. 

GeoT. What place is this ? 

Jes. It's a church where they worship the deevil. 

Gex>r. How long have I been here. 

Jes. For six lang weeks. 

Geor. Does the Residency still hold out against the rebels? 

Je9. 1 dinna ken. I have been here a' the time. 

Geor. Were you taken prisoner when I fell into their hands? 

Jes. Na ! but when we heard that you were dying here, for want of 
Christian help, I cam' across to nur.se ye. 

Geor. My poor girl ! But they will murder youj they show no mercy 
for age or sex. 

Jes. I kuaw it ; here is the Calcutta news. It is fu' o' the bluidy 
wark the Nana Sahib made at Cawnpore. 

Enter Naxa. 
Ee I talk o' the deevil 

Nana. Sahib, open your ears. Your countrymen are dogs. They 
still lie howling in the Residency — they dare not come forth — Inshal- 
lah 

Geor. They look for aid. 

Nana. Their hearts lie, and hope will not feed them ; their food is 
out, they cannot live on air. 

Jes. Ye mistak' ! they are living on an air noo, and is ca'd, '' the 
Campbells are coomin'." And oh,xould I but hear one screel of the 
pibroch — could I see the wavin' o' the bonnie tartan, and the braw 
line o' the shinin' steel, I'd na gie ye twa minits, but ye'd find the 
deevil before ye could say *' Cawnpore."' 

Nana. Woman, be silent, read your printed words, and leave men 
to speak with men. [7b Geordie.] Your countrymen are in our hands. 
Beneath this mosque, even below our feet, we have a mine, it passes 
beneath the fort commanded by the Sahib, your brother. Behold, the 
powder is laid, the match is ready; we can destroy him utleily, his 
fort once taken, the Residency is ours. Bismillah ! have I defiled 
my tongue with lies? 

Gear, The Redan fort is the key to our position. 



JESSIK BUOWN. 19 

Nana. Enough blood has been shed — let him yield — bis men shall go 
forth uiibarmed, we will pour tbe oil of mercy ou their wounds. 

Jes. ^Reading the paper. 1 And under these conditions Cawnpore was 
Burn;ndered ; the garrison marched out, and entered the boats pro- 
videdJor their safe transport. 

Nana. You say your countrymen still look for aid, but they know 
not that the Sahib Havelock was defeated by my troops. From 
Lahore to Alahabad, Hindooftan is ours; you shall write these things 
that they may know ; they will believe yonr word, and they will 
yield. Inshallah! they shall go forth safely ; we will show^mercy — 
on my head be it. 

Jes. \_Reads.'] No sooner were the boats containing the troops, the 
women and children, in the midst 6f the stream than the enemy 
opened a murderous fire, and a work of slaughter began. 

Naiia. What woman is that ? what writing has she in her hand ? 
tear it away ! [Achmet teais the paper from Jessie.] What says the 
pen there ? 

Jes. [Rising.'\ I'll tell ye in broad Scotch. It says that you have 
taught baith women and children to fecht, for you have found some- 
thing that they fear more than death. 

^ch. What's that ? 

Jes. The mercy of Nana Sahib ! 

Nana. Let my ferooshees come here, 

Unler two Hindoos. 

Take that woman and let her die. 

Geor. Stay, Rajah, you would not kill that poor child. 

I At a signal from Acumbt, two cords descend from the roof. 

Alina. You would have her life? Give me the letter to your bro- 
ther ; she herself shall bear it to the Redan fort. {^They unbind Jessie. 

Geor. That letter will not serve you. You do not know Randal 
McGregor — he will die, but will never yield. 

Nana. Be it so. \Rising.'\ Achmet, hew away the right bands of 
these prisoners, and let their bodies swing from the heights of this 
mosque. 

Ach. On my head be it. 

Jes. Geordie, Geordie ! 

Geor. No, Nana, do not give me the death of a dog. Spare that 
poor child. 

JVana. Stifle the howling of that hound. 

Jes. Geordie, far'weel, Geordie! 

Geor. Hold I what would you have me do? 

Nana. [Returning.'] Do you see yonder ropes? they ascend to the 
minaret of this mosque. [7b Achmet.] Prepare the means in yonder 
room to write. \_Exit Achmet.] Behold ! write as I have said or give 
your deck to the cord. Choose — I have spoken. 

Jes. Ay, but you have spoken to a McGregor ! 

[They unbind Geordie. 

Re-enter Achmet. 



20 JKSKIK BROWN. 

Gwr. [Aside.'] One day more — aid may come. Havelock, Outram, 
cannot be far. 

Jes. {Aside."] He hesitates — if he pens that letter a' is lost again, 
yet if 1 speak, the deevils will murder me. 

Geor. \^Aside.] She shall not die. 

{Enters, R. B... followed by Achmet. Stage dark. 

Jes. [Looking off, R. H.] He will do't, to save my life, he -will write 
down his infamy; nae if I bear it to the fort, I can tear it up on the 
way, but then they will kill him after a', and I ainly can be saved. 
Yonder he sits, he tak's the pen — his hand shakes, but still he writes, 
he writes, oh, what are the words? words of infamy, that will gae 
hame, and fill the faces of a' the Christian world wi' shame. Oh, 
could I reach his heart, I could stay his hand, but that black Beelze- 
bub is wi' him. Eh ! baud a wee, I'll speak to him. [Sings. 

" Oh, why left I my hame," &c. 

[After first verse.] He stops, his head fa's in bis hand, tears, tears, ho 
minds me, he minds me. [She falls on her knees. 

[She sings the 2nd verse.] 
He knows what I mean ! [A portion of the floor gives way, and/alls in. 
Ah ! [Starts back.] What is that ? 

[Cassidt/ puts his head through the orifice. 

Gas. Pooh ! what a dust. Cheui [Sneezes.] That was a big pinch of 
snuff anyway. 

Jes. Wha's that ? 'Tis Gassidy's voice. 

Cas. I'll call S weenie ! 

[S weenie's head appears through the orifice, hmde Casstdy^ 

Jes. Sweenie ! 

(?a5. Sweenie ! 

Sween. What's the matter ? 

Cas. Matther! Bedad there's an echo here that spakes first- r« Hin- 
doo echo that takes the words out av yer mouth. 

Jes. Hush, 'tis I, Jessie. 

Sween. Jessie ! 

Cas. Hoo ! garry owen yer sowl ! Hurroo ! . 

Jes. Hush ! gae down quick, they are coomin'. 

[Cassidg and Sweenie disappear, Jessie draws the nusmud or turMsh carpet 
of the Divan over the orifice. 

Enter Achmet with a light. 

Jessie Sings, " Mg bog Tammle ! " with affected unconcern. Achmet 
examines the place, holds the light to her face, and goes out. Jessie with- 
draws the carpet. 

Jes. Hush, silence, whesper. [Sweenie and Cassidy re-appear. 
Cas. Where the divil are we at all. 
Jes. This is a mosque, they ca' it. It is my prison and Geordie's. 

How did you get here ? 
^ween. We were working in the counter mine, ordered by the 

Captain, when we struck right into the mine, prepared by the rebels 



JE.''.SIB BR(>WN. 21 

to blow us up, we removed their powder, of which we were running 
short, and then Cassidy and I tooli a stroll along their mine, to see 
the country. 

Cos. The road was mighty dirty, but the view at the end of it, is 
worth the walk. 

Jes. Then this passage goes under ground to the fort. 

Cos. Bedad, Sweetie, we niver thought of that ! it comes this way, 
but I don't know if it goes back the same. 

Jes. D'ye see yon ropes danglin' there, they are ready for me and 
Geordie. Twa hours mair, and ye'd been too late, down wi' ye noo, 
don't stir, until I tell ye. 

Cas. We'll be as dumb as oysthers. 

[They dimppear, Jessie replaces Vie carpet. 

Re-mter the Nana. Drums without. Re-enter Achmet. Sepoys enter at 

back. 

Ach. A flag of truce from the fort. 

Enter Randal and Blount. 

Jes. The McGregor! 

Rand. You are the Nana ? 

Nana. I am he. 

Rand. I command the Redan fort. I come to offer you an exchange 
of prisoners. We have taken sixty o/^our men. 

JSlina. They are in your hand, Inshallah ! Mohammed Allah I 
Death is their portion. To each man his fate. [Exit Achmet. 

S^nd. We fight our foes, we do not murder them. 

Blount. Stay, Randal, don't be so fiery, let me speak to the Rajah. 
Salam, Aleikoom ! 

Nana. Allah, Resoul Allah ! speak 1 There is no God but God, and 
Mohammed is his prophet. 

Blount. There I can't agree with you, and I shall feci pleased to dis- 
cuss that question at any time your leisure may permit. I am a 
minister of peace and a herald of mercy. Let me touch your heart. 
Our Heavenly Father, whom you call Allah, has given you rule and 
power over men ; you have used it so cruelly, that all the world will 
shudder at your deeds of blood. This girl came here on a mission 
of mercy, she is not your prisoner; in every religion, and of all 
time, the weakness of woman protects her life, and makes her safety 
sacred. 

Nana. The shepherds from the hills of the Himmelayah came to 
me and they said, Behold the tigers come out of the jungle and prey 
upon our flocks, and we fear. Which hearing, I arose ; 1 sought the 
lair of the noble beast. I found there the tigress and her cubs. I 
slew them, »ntil they died ; but, lo, the tiger came, but did he whine 
and weep, saying. Sahib, you have done evil, my mate and my little 
ones are sacred, their weakness should protect them? 

Blount. Are we tigers? 

Nana. The tiger was placed here by Allah ; he eats for his hunger, 
and kills that he may eat. Did Allah send the Briton here to make 
us slaves, to clutch us beneath his lion ^s paw, and to devour the land. 



22 JESSIR DROW.V. 

iDsliallah ! The voiceless word of God has swept over the people* 
and it says, Sufferers, arise, ye shall be free! 

Ran. Freedom was never won by murder, for God has never armed 
the baud of an assassin. 

Nana. What, dogs, are you to judge the ways of Allah? 

Enter Achmet tvith a letter. 
Has the English prisoner written as I have said ? 

Ach. -Tis done 1 

Jes. Na. it canna be ! 

Nana. The officer, your brother, knowing the folly of further resis- 
tance, writes here to you Sahib, and counsels you to yield. 

Jes. Oh, I dar' na luk at Randal. 

Rand. ^Striding tip to Nana.] You lie ! 

Blount. Randal, forbear, perhaps Geordie has been misled, deceived? 

Ra7id. Deceit can make a man a fool, but not a coward. 

Enter Geordie. 

Geor. Randal ! 

Rand. Stand back ! Lieutenant McGregor ! the Rajah of Bithoor 
declares that in this letter to me, you have counseled to surrender. 
lA pause.] You are silent. 

Geor. Randal, you will forgive me when you know all, but now 
and here, I dare not speak. 

A'lma. The proud brow of the Englishman, our tyrant, can be 
bowed down with shame. Achmet, read the letter. 

Geor. No, no, not here. 

Ach. I cannot ; it's in a foreign tongue. 

Blount. [Looking over it.} 'Tis in Gaelic, the native tongue of Scot- 
land ; I do not understand it. 

Jes. Eh ! I do ; let me see. There's nae words in Gaelic that would 
serve a coward's tongue. Let me see. [J/tmc. She reads low.'] Eh, 
sirs, it is pure Gaelic, and rins so. [To Nana.] Open yer lugs, ye 
deevil, for here's porridge for ye, hotter than ye can sup it, maybe. 
[Reads.] To Captain Randal McGregor, Her Majesty's 78th High- 
landers : My dearest brother, the Nana Sahib has doomed me to the 
death of a dog. My execution will take place at seven o'clock ; you 
can spare our mother that grief, and me that disgrace. Jessie will 
point out to you the window of my prison — it looks over the Redan 
fort, and is within gun-shot of our men. As the clock strikes six, 
I will be at that window ; draw out a firing party, and let them 
Bend three honest volleys through my heart. God bless you ; give 
my love to Alice and Mary ; remember me to all the fellows of our 
mess — let them give me a parting cheer when I fall. Your affec- 
tionate brother, Geordie McGregor. 

Ran. Geordie, my brother ! my own brother ! 

Geor. Randal ! 

Blount. [Bursting into an ecstacy of delight.] I can resist no longer. 
[Shouts.] God save the Queen I 

[Embraces Jessie. Nana goes up with Aghmkt. 

Rati. What gun« are those 1 



JESSIE BKOWN. 23 

Nanu. My artillery cover the advance of the faithful on the Redan 
forf. Bind these tneti. Your hours are numbered. 

Ran. Traitor ! we are protected by a flag of truce. 

Kana. Your liag of truce shall be your winding sheet. Swing their 
bodi^'s. to the Minaret. As the hour strikes seven let it be done. 
[y//e Hindoos seize Randai,, Geokdie and Jessie.] Let the old man go, 
that he may bear witness over all the earth, and strike white wfth 
terror the hearts of England, when they hear the vengeance of Nana 
Sahib. [Exit. 

Blount. Don't ! Hang me too, hang me ! I'll be hung, if I die for it. 

Ack. Slaves, see the Nana's order done, on your heads be it. On 
the Biroke of seven, draw the ropes! my duty calls me to the mine. 
The iiiine below your countrymen. In live minutes the match will 
be lighted, and from above you will be able to see your soldiers 
blown to the skies. 

[^Ezit AcHMET. The. Hindoos having bound Randal, Geoedie and 
Jessie exeunt. 

Jes. [Calling.'] Sweenie, Cassidy, quick. 

[Cassidy throws back the carpet. 

Cas. Here I am ! [Appears in the orifice.'] I'm nearly choked wid 
keepin' the fight in mo. [Jumps up. 

Blount. Where do you come from 2 

Can. From the mine, aljinna ! Sweenie has run down below to 
look afther the uaygur, that's gone ta-blow us up, he's got a word or 
two to say to him. 

Ran. Quick, cut these cords, the executioners hold the other end, 
outside, and at the stroke of seven, they will run us up. 

[Cassidy cuts the cords, aided by Blodnt. 

Geor. Free! [Embraces Jessie. 

Sween. [At the orifice.'] Come alojig^it's no use kicking. 

Ran. Sweenie! 

Siceen. All right your honor. [Salutes Randal.} I've got a Hindoo 
Guy Fawkes. matches and lantern all complete. 

Cos. Come up asy, darlint. 

[SwEEXiE and Cas.sidy pull Acujaet, gagged and bound, thro^ the orifice. 

Ran. Secure that fellow, so that he may not give the alarm. 

Cas. Never fear. Captain. [Guns outside. 

Ran. The attack ha^ commenced 1 To the Redan, Geordie, to the 
R'dau. [GEOBDfE and Randal disappear down the orifice. 

BLuunt. Sweenie, spare that man, shed no blood boys, do yoa 
bear me. 

Cas. All right, yer rlverence. 

Blount. Bind him fast, but let him live. [He descends, 

Sween. Here is a rope, tie him with this. 

[Ace MET i^rugyle.'i and tries to speak, they throio him down. 

Ca.$. He's as lively as a cock salmon. Hould quiet ye divil, he's 
try in' to spake. 

Jes. [Aside.] That rope, they dinna ken what it is there for. 

Cas. Tie him tight, and for fear he'd get the gag out and cry 
murdher, glv the rope a hitch round his neck. 



24 Jkssik BRow^f. 

Jes. Stop, release him, that cord is held by the executioners out- 
side, and at the stroke of seven. {The great dock of the mosque strikes'] 
Ah, mercy. 

Ow. What is it? 
[The body of Acu.met is suddenly carried up, and disappears above 

through the roof. Cassidy and Sweenie look amazed. Jessie utters a 

cry, and falls, hiding her face. 

END OF ACT II. 



ACT III. 

SCENE I. — The Redan, a fort commanding a certain part of the City af 
LucknotP, and forming an outpost work, near the Residency. A breast 
work of gabions, fascines, and other military appliances embrace the stage. 
Through embrasures, four pieces of artillery are placed, one of them is dis- 
mounted, as if by a cannon ball. In the distance is sem the encampment 
of the rebel Sepm/s, and three forts similarly constructed to the Redan, and 
mounted with artillery. The scene generally bears marks of a severe attack, 
both of musketry and cannonade Groups of ladies ivith children, wounded 
soldiers, on guard, and some asleep. Cassidy smoking a pipe, sits beside 
Jessie, who is asleep, her head resting on his knapsack, a7id his grey coat 
spread over her. Sweenik, with his head hound and wounded, leans on his 
musket. Mrs. Campbell arid her two children on the l. h., a grey, cold 
light thrown over the scene, indicates the dawn of day. Geokdie at tlie 
back is looking through a field glass, examining the position of the enemy. 

Mrs. C. Geordie, what can you see ? 

Geor. I can see the road to Alumbagh, from whence we expect re- 
lief, but there is no sign of troops there. 

Mrs. C. Day after day we hope, until hope itself dies away — for 
three long months we have resisted. 

Charlie. Mamma, I am hungry. 

Mrs. C. God help you my poor child. 

Geor. [To the nun."] Lads, here's a little child starving, is there a 
crust among ye ? 

Sween. [Saluting.'] Not a crumb, your honor, except it's in I*hil 
Regan's kit, he died an hour ago. There he lies. [Points of, r. 

Geor. Search and see. [Exit Sweexik. 

Enter Randal. 

Rand. What news of the night ? 

Geor. Nine men dead of their wounds. Six gone into the hospital. 

Rand. Inglis is hemmed in — can scarcely hold his own, like us, can 
scarcely sustain himself from hour to hour. If the columns of Gen- 
eral Havelock's force do not appear to-day, we must make Lack> 
now our permanent residence, Geordie. 

Geor. T ou mean that you will die at this post ? 



JESblE BROAVN. 25 

[SwEENiE re-enters with a morsel of bread, and hands it to Mrs. Campbell. 

She gives it to Charlie, tvho is going to eat it, but hesitates, breaks it in 

katf and places one half of it in the hand of Et^iE, who still deeps, then 

the child eats. 

Mrs. C. How is Jessie ? [Geordie kneels beside Jessie. 

Siceen. She sleeps, but the long weeks of sufl'ering has worn her 
spirit out at last. 

Band. Poor Jessie, has she too lost her spirits? 

Cas. Lost hersperrits! Bedad, yer honor, the biggest keg of whis- 
key will give out at last if ye go dhrawin' at it ev-ry minit, an' 
afther Jessie cam' back, she tuk no rest, night or day, what wid nurse 
tendin' the woundid men, an' comfortin' the wimmin an' childer, an' 
cookin', an' kaping up the sperrit of the boys at the guns. When 
the hunger was in her mouth, she'd always have a song in id about the 
ould couuthry that warrum'd our hearts, or a gay word to throw us in 
passin' that ud fetch the tear into our eyes. Lost her sperrits, Oh, 
achone ! them sperrits was brewed in heaven above, they nivir touched 
the head but the heart of a man could get dhrunk upon 'em. 

3Irs. C. Poor Jessie ! she has been in a state of restless excitement 
through all the siege, and has fallen away visibly during the last few 
days. A constant fever consume? her, and her mind wanders occa- 
sionally, when recollections of home seem powerfully present to her. 
Overcome by fatigue, she has laii* -there since midnight, wrapped in 
her plaid. Poor child I it is strange, Randal, to see those rough 
men watch over her with the tenderness and grief of a mother over 
r a sick child. 

Filter Blount. 

Blount. No news of relief? „ ■ 

Ran. None yet, but our fort here is cut off from the Residency, 
and Colonel Inglis may have dispatches. 

Blount. Cheer up, lads, there's a good time coming. The old folks 
at home will long remember the defense of Lucknow, and every man 
here will be a hero in his own native' village. 

Cas. Except me, your riverence, divil native village I've got. I 
was born under a haystack, me father and mother had crossed to 
England for the harvest. Me mother died of me, and me father bruk 
his heart wid dhrinkin', so when they sent me home to Ireland, my 
relations would'nt own me, bekase I was an Englishman. 

Blount. My good Cassidy, hearts like yours are never without a 
home, while there is goodness in earth and room in Heaven 1 

Cas. I'm content, sirl if Jessie was not sick, and I'd an ounce o' 
baccy, I would'nt call the Queen me uncle. 

[ZTe draws the coat over Jessie. 

Geor. Here's the rations for the day. 

[Enter a Sergeant, loith a tin vessel containing the food. 

Ran. Now, lads, there's no bugle to call ye to breakfast, so fall in 
and fall to. This is the last of our food, so"make it go as far as you 
can. [Th-efood is divided amongst tfie nwi. They fonn a group and speak."] 
As soon as the suu is up, we shall have warm work. So buckle 



26 JKSSIE r.ROWX. 

your belts tight. [A distant ^im.] There goes a how d'ye do from the 
rebels. 

Siceeii. [Advancing and sahitiny.}' Please your honor, the men 
wants to know very respectfully sir, please if this here ration is the 
last of our food, vvhat's the chiklreu aud ladies a' goin' to have 
sarved out. 

Ran. That is a mutinous question, sir, fall in your ranks. 

:^ivcen. Ax your pardou, please sir — the men won't eat their 
rations till they know. They say they would'nt fight no how sir, 
tuiyways comiurlable, if they ain't allowed to share all fair with the 
women and the little 'ung. 

Ail the men. Share alike ! Share alike I 

lian! Silence la the ranks! fall in, my good lads. Listen: for 80 
days we have held this fort against fifty thousand rebels — from week 
to week our numbers have been thinned off, until we alone remain ; 
a few hours more, and General Havelock may arrive, [a gun,'] but 
those few hours will be terrible. The rebel Sepoys grown desperate 
by repulse, will try to overwhelm us with their whole force. [A gun.] 
To preserve the loss of these weak ones, you must have strength to 
reprl this attack. You are starving — the food you eat is their pro- 
tection. 

.Sween. Please, Captain, the men say they'd feel worse after such 
a meal. 

Ran. Do as you will, there is ft Captain above who commands your 
hearts. Break ranks. 

{Ihe men hasten to the various groups of women and children, and divide 
their rations ivith them. 

Blount. The Lord is with us. His spirit is amongst us ? 

(reor. [7b Blount.] Will you not eat, sir? [Offering him food. 

Blount. How can I, boy ? my hekrt is in ray mouth, 1 have food 
enough in that. [To the groups.] Stay, my dear ones I the food is poor, 
but let us not forget Him who gave it. [Each person arrests his hand at 
the moment of eating.] God bless us, and give us strength in this dark 
hour of our lives ! [Jessie wakes. 

Jes. I'm cauld — I'm verra cauld. 

Cas. Cowld, darlin ! sure it's September, and as hot as blazes — the 
Lord be praised, 

AJrs. C. Jessie, are you better ? [Jessie looks round eagerly. 

Jes. I maun get my father's breakfast ; the gude man will be bock 
soon frae the field. 

Gas. What is she talking about? 

Siveen. Eat, Jessie dear — we have kept your ration till you awoke. 

Jes. Eat! na— ah ! [rejects the bread] dinna ye see? there's bluid 
upon it ! 

Cas. Blood! 

Geor. Jessie! 

Mrs. C. Jessie? [Crosses hastily to her.] Jessie, you are ill. Look at 
me — speak to me — do you not know me ' [Kneels beside her. 

Jes. Kuaw ye ! knaw ye ! Nae, but I ken a bonnie song— a song 
of Scotland— it's made o' heather and bluebellB, woven in a tartau, 
and it is eo gladsome that it maks me weep. 



JESSIE BROWN. 



27 



Mrs. C. Randal, Randal, her senses have goue — her mind wandera. 
Char. Jessie, my own Jessie ! don't look so. 
Jes. We'll gang hame. Coom to me — what's yer name ? 
Char. Charlie Fergus Campbell. 

Jes. Then ye'ar Scotch — Scotch to the core of the heart. Listen. 

[Sings. 
" In winter, when the rain rained cauld," &c. 

Siveen. Jessie, Jessie dear? don't you know me ? Sweenie. 

Jes. Sweenie! where is he ? He-U be outside the Byre, doon by 
the gates. After melkiu the coos, I'll coom t'ye my lad. I'll steal 
away to the trystin, Sweenie. Fear nought. [Sings. 

"Oh, whistle and I'll come to yer, my lad."&c. 

Ran. Do not weep. Amy. She is happier so — and if we fail in re- 
pulsing the rebels to-day, or if we are not relieved by sundown, ber 
madness will be a blessing — she will be insensible to her fate. 

Mrs. C. Has the' last hour come, Randal ? 

[Three guns are heard in quick succession. 

Ran. Hark ! the batteries are opening their fire. Fall in, men. 
Geordie, repel any advance by the left. I will hold the front. 

Cas. [ Who has been looking over the back-l Plase your honor, here 
come the black divils — they're upon us. 

Ran. Steady men, no hurry. — Sweep them down. — ^Forward! 
[ Exit R.C.E. with men Music. Exit Geordie l. with men. Sounds of 
musketry — cannon outside — drums. 

Blount. To your knees ! — to your knees ! — and pray ! — this hour 
may be our last. Oh, if my scruples did not weigh so heavily upon 
me, I could strike for my country. [Takes out a book. 

Jes-. [ Who has been recovering her senses, as she listens to the conflict, at 
first loith surprise, then with awakening comprehension.'\ Ah ! I mind it 
all — I am awak ! where's Sweenie? 

Blount. Let me read aloud to you, the words of peace and comfort. 
[Jessie turns and sees the heads of some of the Sepoys at the embrasures, 
two of them are trying to escalade the breastwork.'] Look ! look ! they come ! 

[The women utter a cry of dismay. 

Blount. The enemy ! [Pockets the book, and seizes a gun rammer.] In 
the name of the Lord and of Gideon! [He advances to the back. The 
ttvo wounded soldiers rise, and craivl to the guns. Jessie runs to a bomb- 
shell, tha{ lies, L. H., and finding Cassidy's pipe where he has thrown it 
still alight, she lights the fuse, and carries it loith great difficulty to the breast- 
work, toppling it over. Blount standing on the disabled gun, deals pon- 
derous bloios right and left, with the rammer, and knocks over the Sepoys as 
they appear. The two wounded soldiers, Jessie, Alice and Mrs. Camp- 
bell, draio out the other gun, load it, and run it in again. The bomb is 
heard to explode outside, followed by cries and hurrahs. Mrs. Campbell 
applies a port fire to the gun, and fires it. Another shout. Jessie leaps on 
the gun. The children bring hand grenades, and roll in a cannon ball. 
Randal and Geordie re-appear, r. and l., leading back their men, some 
wounded. Groups are formed. The ladies tear their dresses and make ban- 
dagesfor the wounded soldiers. 



28 JESSIE BROWN. 

Rand. Well done, bravely done ! The enemy is repulsed, it was 
hot work. 

Blount. Hot ! It was terrible ! I'm afraid I have killed somebody. 
I fear I have sent a sinner to his last account up there. [Points up. 

Gas. [Taking his arm and making him point it down.'] No, that's the 
way they wint. Bedad but ye made that shillelah dance like over 
their heads — they wint down by dozens — it was illegant. 

Blount. I'll have to answer for this hereafter. 

Gas. Oh, make yer mind asy ! Damn the question ye'll ivir be 
axed about it. 

Gear. Who sent that bomb, it feH into their advancing column and 
exploded with terrible effect ? 

Mrs. G. 'Twas Jessie. 

Sween. "| 

Rand. ^'''''' 

Geor. J 
[ They look round, Jessie is discovered crying bitterly, seated on the breast- 
work. They bring her forioard. 

Mrs. C. Jessie, what ails you ? why do you weep ? [To the rest."] I 
never saw her cry before. 

Alice. Dearest Jessie, are you wounded ? 

Jes. Na, na, but I canna help it. The clouds in my brain are 
pourin' oot, an' — an' — an — [Falls into hysterics. 

Alice. She is weak, poor child, hunger and fear have killed her. 

Blount. No ! this spasm of tears relieves her overburthened brain — 
she will recover. 

Mrs. G. Leave her to Alice and me. 

Ghar. Jessie, dear, don't 'ee ^hrjr, don't cry. 

[Jessie embraces the children. 

Rand. [Taking Blount and Geordik aside.] We have repulsed the 
first attack, but the enemy is too strong for us, they will try a second 
and a third — we have now only 20 men left — their next attack will 
succeed. 

Blount. God's will be done. Let us thank Him that we are pre- 
pared to die. Yes, it is with joyful thankfulness that I say it. There 
is not one human being here, that has not shewn a noble, beautiful 
and Christian spirit, except me. I have been led away. The shep- 
herd has killed his flock. 

Rand. No, he has only driven the wolf away. 

Blount. Let us hope that it may be forgiven me. Now what shall 
we do. 

Geor. Alice, Amy, and Jessie, must they fall into the hands of 
these wretches? Oh, Randal, remember Cawnpore ! 

Blount. Let them decide. Let them know the worst, that they 
may prepare to meet their fearful fate. 

Ra7id. I cannot speak it. I can face the enemy, but I cannot look 
into the pale faces of those women and tell them that my arm is 
powerless to defend their honor and their live?. 

[Go&i up and seats himself dejectedly an a gun carria^. 



JESSIE BROWN. 29 

Blount. This is my mission. I will speak to them ; heaven inspires 
me with courage ! Geordie. tell me when the last moment is come. 
l^Sils, R. H., and takes out hU book.'] Let me know when our death is 
near. 

Mrs. C. Her temples throb and burn. My poor Jessie, lie down 
awhile and rest your head in my lap. 

Geor. \_Near Blount.'] What are you reading ? 

Blount. [Looking up.] The prayers for the dead ! 
\G6ordie goes up, and leans on the breastwork. The men are reposing in 

groups. 

Alice. How she trembles ! her haflids are icy cold. 

Mrs. C. Jessie, are you cold ? 

Jes. \_Sings in a low voice.] 

" In winter, when the rain rained cauld,-' &c. 

Alice. Her senses .wander again. 

Mrs. C. Jessie, my dear Jessie ! try to rest your wearied brain — try 
to sleep. 

Jes. Sleep ! Aye, let me sleep awee — but you will awak me when 
my father cooms frae the ploughin'. 

Mrs. C. Yes, Jessie, when the gude man comes home, I will awake 
you. \_Aside.] God help her ! 

Jes. I'm his ainly bairn, and he loos me well. [Sings sloivly the first 
few bars of ^'- Robin Gray,'^ as she falls to .deep. 

Geor. [Advancing to Blount.[ The enemy are moving, sir — the time 
has come. 

Blount. [Closing the book.] I am ready. 

[Rises. Distant drum is heard, very low. 

Ran. The enemy ! Fall in, men ! 

[Eight men rise, and form with Sweenie and Cassidy — Randal counts them. 

Ra)i. Ten ! ten men alone are fit for service — ten men to repulse a 
thousand ! [Turns aside. 

Blount. My gentle friends — to you, weak in body but so strong in 
soul, I speak. It is fitting that you should know that the last hour 
has arrived. [Dj-iims. A gun.] The last earthly hope is gone — let us 
address ourselves to heaven. 

Alice. Will these men desert us ? 

Blount. In an hour not one of th(JSe men will be living. 

3frs. C. But we shall be living. Oh, recollect Cawnpore ! these 
children will be hacked to pieces before our eyes — ourselves reserved 
for worse than death, and then mutilated, tortured, butchered in cold 
blood. Randal, will you see this done — will you not preserve us 
from this fate. [Alice loeeps on Geordie's breast. 

Ran. Amy, my heart is broken. What can we do ? 

Mrs. C. Kill us. Put us to a merciful death ere you fall. Oh, 
Randal, do not turn away from me — think of the fate reserved for 
her you love. Oh, death, death ! a thousand times death ! You are 
going to die — take us with you, Randal ; if you leave us here, 
you are accessories to our dishonor and our murder. 

Blount. They come, they come — already they begin to ascend the 
hill. 



30 JESSIE BROWN. 

Alice. Geordie. 

Mrs. C. Quick, or it will be too late. Quick, Randal — oh, remem- 
ber we are cowards — we are women and we may not have the courage 
to kill ourselves. 

Ran. I cannot, Amy, I cannot. 

Mrs. C. Lend me your dirk, then. Rather than see my children 
mutilated, tortured, they shall die. God will forgive a mother 
when her children plead for her. 

Blount. They are here, Randal — they are here. 

Rail. Murderers! they come for their prey. [Daskincf down his 
bonnet.'] Yes, I will tear it from their rage. Soldiers, one vol- 
ley — your last — to free your countrywomen from the clutches of 
the demons. One volley to their noble and true hearts, and then 
give yQur steel to the enemy. Load. 

[The soldiers bite off the ends of their cartridges and load their muskets. The 
women cast themselves into each other's arms and form a group. 

Blount. [Begins to read the service for the dead.] In the midst of life 
we are in death. 

[A distant wail of the bagpipes is heard. Jessie starts from her sleep. 

Ran. Shoulder arms. Ready! 

[Another wail of the pipes is heard. 

Jes. Ah! [Utters a cry.] Hark — hark — dinna ye hear it? dinna ye 
hear it? Ay! I'm no dreamin', it's the slogan of the Highlanders! 
we're saved — we're saved! [Throws herself on her knees.] Oh, thank 
God ! whose mercy never fails the strong ia heart, and those that 
trust in him. 

Ran. Relief! no ! it is impossible 1 [Guns outside. 

Jes. I heard it ! I heard it ! 

Geor. Here comes the enemy ! 

Jes. To the guns, men, to the guns ! Courage ! Hark ! to the 
slogan. 'Tis the slogan of the McGregor, the grandest of them a'. 
There's help at last. Help ! d'ye hear me ? help ! 

Ran. There is no signal from the Residency. Jessie, your ears 
deceive you. 

Mrs. C. She is mad ! 

Jes. I am not daft, my Scotch ears can hear it far awa'. [Bagpipes 
sound nearer.] There again — there — will ye believe it uoo — d'ye hear 
— d'ye hear? the Campbells are comin' ! 

[The Bagpipes swell out louder, but still distant. Distant musketry is heard 
to roll. Shouts ! 

Geor. See, the flag runs up at the Residency. 'Tis true. 

[Cannonade. 

Ran. To arms ! men ! One charge more, and this time drive your 
steel down the throats of the murderous foe. [Musketry. 

Jes. Ha ! they coom ! they coom ! yonder is the tartan. Oh ! the 
bonnie Highland plaid. [She waives her tartan plaid.] You have nae 
forgotten us. 

[The pipes here change the air to " Should Auld Acquaintance be ForgoU*' 



JESSIE BROWN. 



31 



D'ye hear! d'ye hear, -Should Auld Acquaintance be Forgot," noo 
lads!, here come the rebels. It will be yer last chance at them. 

\_She leaps down. 
Ran. Steady lads ! [T'le Sq)oys appear at the hack. 

All. Hurrah! 
[They dash up the hreast work and after firing , club their gwis and 
disappear fighting, driving the Sepoys down. Shouts and musketry 
and cannonade, grow furious. The back scene is covered with a 
red glow ; explosions, as from mines, are heard, through all of 
which the bagpipes continues, now very loud and near. The Hin- 
doos appear fighting , and driven in at the back. They fall over 
the breast work ; Randal and the Highlanders, with their piper, 
charge up the breastivork and croivn it in every direction, bearing 
down the Sepoys with the bayonet. Geordie and his men enter l. 
H. Cassidy and Sweenie from r. h., with others of the men, face 
those of the Sepoys, who are driven over by the Highlanders. 



mm» * 



Note from the Author. — The powerftil incident with which this 
drama concludes, incited me to construct the domestic fiction con- 
tained in the first and second acts. Its dramatic value I had seen 
tested by Mr. Everett, on an audience at the Academy of Music, 
rendered breathless and hysterical by the sweet power of his pathetic 
description. Yet the task of dramatising the subject might have 
been abandoned had I not possessed, in my own wife, a representative 
for the character of Jessie Brown, singularly adapted to its realiza- 
tion. Her Scottish blood warmed to the subject ; her Scotch dialect,, 
and her power of delineating Highland character, assured me that 
the central figure of my dramatic group would be faithfully rendered. 
T hope that in the treatment of this pretty subject, the reader may 
find I have not injured the beautiful sentiment of the original tale. 

DION BOURCICAULT. 

The folio-wing account is taken from the letters of a lady, one of the rescued on 
the 26th September, when Lucknow was relieved by the forces under Sir Colin 
Campbell : 

" Death stared us in the face. We were fully persuaded that in twenty-four hours 
all would be over. The engineers had said so, and all knew the worst. We women 
strove to encourage each other, and to perform the light duties which had been as- 
signed to us, such as conveying orders to the batteries and supplying the men with 
provisions, especially cups 6i' cofl'ee, which wc prepared dav and night. I had gone 
out to try and make myself uBcful, in company with Jessie Brown. Poor Jessie ha«d 



32 JESSIE BROWN. 

been in a state of restless excitement ail through tlie siege, and had fallen away 
visibly within the last few days. A constant lever consumed her, and her mini 
wandered occasionally, especially on that day, when the recollections of home 
seemed powerfully present to her. At last, overcome with fatigue, she lay down on 
the ground, wrapped up in her plaid. I sat beside her, promising to awaken her 
when, as she said, '"her father should return from the ploughing." She at length 
fell into a profound slumber, motionless and apparently breathless, her head resting- 
in my lap. I myself could no longer resist the inclination to sleep, in spite of ihn 
continual roar of cannon. Suddenly I was aroused by a wild, unearthly scream 
close to my ear ; my companion stood upright beside me, her arms raised and her 
head bent forward in the attitude of listening. A look of intense delight broke over 
her countenance, she grasped ray hand, drew me towards her, and exclaimed, 
" Dinna ye hear it ? dinna ye hear it ? Ay, I'm no dreamin' ; its the slogan o' the 
Highlanders ! We're saved, we're saved ! " Then, flinging herself on her knees, she 
thanked God with passionate fervor. I felt utterly bewildered ; ray English ears 
heard only the roar of artillery, and I thought my jioor Jessie was still raving, but 
she darted to the batteries, and I heard her cry incessantly to the men, " Courage ! 
bark to the slogan— to the Macgregor. the grandest of ihem a' ! Here's help at last." 
To describe the effect of these words upon the soldiers would be impossible. For a 
moment they ceased firing, and every soul listened in intense anxiety. Gradually, 
however, there arosf a murmur of bitter disappointment, and the wailing ol the 
women who had flocked out began anew as the Colonel shook his head. Our dull 
lowland ears heard nothing but the rattle of the musketry. A few moments more of 
this deathlike suspense, of this agonising hope, and Jessie, who had again sunk on 
the ground, sprang to her feet, and cried in a voice so clear and piercing that it was 
heard along the whole line— "Will ye no believe it noo? The slogan has ceased, 
indeed, but the Campbells are comin'.' D'ye hear, d'ye hear ? " At that moment avo 
seemed indeed to hear the voice of God in the distance, when the bagpipes of the 
Highlanders brought us tidings of deUvcrance, for now there was no longer any 
doubt of the fact. That shrill, pemetrating, ceaseless sound, which rose above all 
other sounds, would come neither from the advance of the enemy nor from the work 
of the Sappers. No, it was indeed the blast of the Scottish bagpipes, now shrill and 
harsh, as threatening vengeance on the foe, then in softer tones, seeming to promise 
succor to their friends in need. Never surely was there such a scene as that which 
followed. Not a heart in the Residency of Lucknow but bowed itself before God. 
All, by one simultaneous impulse, fell upon their knees, and nothing was heard but 
bursting sobs and the murmured voice of prayer. Then all arose, and there rang 
out from a thousand lips a great shout of joy which resounded far and wide, and 
lent new vigor to that blessed bagpipe. To our cheer of " God save the Queen ! " 
they replied in the well-known strain that moves every Scot to tears." Should auld 
acquaintance be forgot," &c. After that nothing else made any impression on me. 
I scarcely remember what followed." 



THE END. 




THE GARDE MOBILE, a Farce in 1 act, 

THE QUEEN OF SPADES, in 3 acts, 

THE CORSICAN BROTHERS, in 3 acts, 

*THE VAMPIRE, in 3 acts, 

THE PRIMA DONNA, in 2 acts, 

GENEVIEVE, in 3 acts, - - - - 

THE YOUNG ACTRESS, in 1 act, - 

THE FOX HUNT, in 5 acts, 

ANDY BLAKE, in 2 acts, - • 

FAUST AND MARGARET, in 3 acts, - 

LOmS THE XI, in 5 acts, 

♦APOLLO IN NEW YORK, in 2 acts, 

♦JANET PRIDE, in 5 acts, - 

♦THE CHAMELEON, in 1 act, - 

♦THE FAIRY STAR, in 1 act, 

♦THE LIFE OF AN ACTRESS, in 5 acts, 

♦THE PHANTOM, in 2 acts, - 

AZAEL, in 3 acts, . . . . 

♦UNA, in 2 acts, .... 

♦NOTHING IN IT, in 1 act, 

BLUEBELLE, in 2 acts, 

THE CAT CHANGED INTO A WOMAN, in 1 act, 

♦GEORGE D'ARVILLE, in 5 acts, - 

THE POOR OF NEW YORK, in 5 acts, - 



London, 


K51 


London. 


1851 


London 


1852 


London 


1852 


London 


1852 


London 


1853 


New York 


1853 


- New York 


1853 


Boston 


1854 


London 


1854 


London 


1854 


- New York 


1855 


London 


1855 


New Orleans 


1855 


Boston 


1855 


- New Orleans 


1855 


Philadelphia 


1856 


- New Orleans 


1856 


New Orleans 


1856 


- Philadelphia 


1856 


- New York 


1856 


- Boston 


1856 


London 


1857 


New York 


1857 



This list comprises the principal and most poprdar works of this Dramatist, those to 
which a star is prefixed are original, the rest are adaptations, translations, or altered 
from obsolete pieces. Upwards of sixty works by the same author, are not included 
in the above catalogue. 




^^.iS CjiPjis'.^ifr 7" T'^.S'C-, 



ucHARY OF CONGRESS 




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LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




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